Whatever big industry we consider, whether the pharmaceutical companies, GMO and biotech companies, animal agriculture, fast food, or processed food companies, the depths of their efforts to manipulate public opinion in their favor will astound most people. When we become aware of the amount of money and effort that goes into creating an image to make their products appear in a favorable way and force them into our lives, it is disturbing, to say the least. The amount and degree of misinformation to confuse and divide people that is spread during these promotional stunts is staggering! And what happens to those who attempt to expose those industries and try to have policies and laws put in against them? They are attacked with demeaning, threatening, and aggressive actions that threaten everything from their wellbeing to their careers.

One would think that surely governments are able to step in and control the actions of these destructive industries. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Government officials are often bought and paid for by these very industries to ensure that they push and promote the legislation that will be to their benefit and not stand in their way. What happens below the surface is a whole other realm of incomprehensible actions and corruption at the most extreme levels. The Institute for Responsible Technology provides just one such example in their article and exposé Monsanto’s Army of Online Bullies.

It is not okay for people not to be able to speak up and speak out freely and openly without harassment and fear, especially when it comes to topics that are related to improving the health and wellbeing of people, other living beings, and our entire Earth. It is not okay that our food systems today are overrun by genetically modified, artificially-fabricated, heavily refined, and chemically-drenched food products. We can choose differently and we can create a different society by taking part in the homegrown revolution.

Your Choices Matter

Through awareness and different choices, both online and in our everyday lives, we can cause a positive shift that does not tolerate this kind of behavior and brings an end to destructive industries.

Online: Instead of engaging with those who you suspect are “trolls” and only trying to bully others into submission and accepting their point of view, focus your efforts on effective educational campaigns and supporting the people who are actually looking for help and info on any of these topics.

Offline: Instead of supporting the products and companies that are destructive in their approach to human and environmental health, choose to support those that are working for the betterment of all. Remember, the more you know and the more you are aware, the better the quality of your choices will be, where they become part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. One of the most effective ways to change our food systems, improve our societies, and benefit your wellbeing is by becoming more responsible for sourcing out your own food.

To help inspire you in this area, I invite you to watch the short film (15 minutes) provided above about the Homegrown Revolution featuring the Dervaes family.

In our society growing food ourselves has become the most radical of acts. It is truly the only effective protest, one that can—and will- overturn the corporate powers that be. By the process of directly working in harmony with nature, we do the one thing most essential to change the world — we change ourselves.

Jules Dervaes, Founder (1947-2016)

I first saw this film shortly after it came out several years ago and recently came across it and watched it again with even more enthusiasm, appreciation, excitement, and gratitude than the first time that people like this exist and lead the way, showing what is possible when we change our priorities, perspectives and focus. We don’t all have to go to the degrees the Dervaes family did unless we can and want to of course, but we can all do a little something. Something that is helpful, healing, positive, liberating, and constructive. Something that goes beyond being just a consumer in a materialistic society, where you are fully dependent on a highly dysfunctional, destructive, and fragile system.

Nature Supports Positive Change

As nature awakens from the deep slumber of winter, each spring season brings forth a heightened and renewed life energy. Longer and brighter days, budding trees, blooming flowers, and animals eager to start new families. This beautiful time also invites us to spend more time outdoors and one of the best things we can do while outdoors is engage in working with the Earth and its abundant variety of life-giving plants through gardening. Growing some of our own food today is quickly becoming one of the best things for healthy living and the most valuable additions to our personal quality of life and positive collective change.

Use the high energy of the spring season to take a stand in favor of your wellbeing and empower yourself by becoming less dependent on the corrupt food systems we have. No matter where you are already or what you are doing to live in a healthier, more sustainable, more optimized, and efficient way, make another change, take another step, and create a better life experience for yourself and others.

I measure short-term success by how much I have improved at what I am doing to make my world a better place. However, I see long-term success as being measured by what others have accomplished because of what I have done.

Jules Dervaes (1947-2016)